Montoya and Ortiz, perhaps unconsciously,
are expanding the conceptual core that sustains their work.

Luis Montoya and Leslie Ortiz, who have formed an artistic partnership over the last 15 years, have undergone an inner journey of reflection, reassessment and transformation of an art form they know very well. At this stage of their evolution they have discovered that time is not a frontal attack on the human spirit; something that we can abolish or should fight back by adding more plates to our protective armor. Creation is not an open-ended process, but an infinite cycle of transformations and time is the engine that allows the whole process to keep on going. With their new bronzes, these two artists, perhaps unconsciously, are expanding the conceptual core that sustains their work.

Luis and Leslie’s recent bronzes, as beautiful as ever, are strictly faithful representations of a marine fauna of mollusks, seashells, snails, clams, shrimps, prawns, and other crustaceans. With their new bronzes, these two artists, perhaps unconsciously, are expanding the conceptual core that sustains their work. If in their vegetable universe metal and colors were perceived as luscious soft flesh, in their current work, the hidden defenseless animal has learned how to encapsulate itself with protective shells and metallic plates very much like our old Venetian friend Bartolomeo Colleoni.